Fragment, photographic installation, 2023, Group Exhibition, MFA2 Group Show School of Art, L-shape, California Institute of the Arts
Untitled, photographic installation, 2023, Group Exhibition, The Archive, BB5-1, California Institute of the Arts
“中国要富强，民族要兴旺，人口要控制”
Translation: Make China rich and strong, Make the nation thriving and prosperous, Make the population controlled
Many of the Chinese propaganda slogan wall paintings related to Chinese government policies have either been replaced by red propaganda banners or destroyed in recent years. The photo, taken in October 2020 in Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, documents one of these Chinese propaganda slogan wall paintings about the One-Child Policy. As new policies are established, old ones quickly become outdated. In response to declining birth rates and labor shortages, the Chinese government has introduced the three-child policy. The once-significant but now outdated propaganda wall painting has transformed into a seemingly incongruous sightseeing tourist spot. At the time this photo was taken, the building housing the propaganda painting had been repurposed into a cafe named “Stage Cafe.”
The 1.5”x1” photographic print is placed at the entrance of the space. As the viewers step into the studio, they may step on or pass by the print. The small size of the print encourages viewers to bend down and closely examine it. The white paper on the floor captures the footprints of those who enter the space. Once they enter the space, they are interacting with the installation. The interactive element highlights the contemporary relevance of the One-Child Policy’s history. While many may pass by without noticing, this installation challenges viewers to take a closer look, encouraging them to delve into a history that remains largely unseen and unspoken. Only by examining it closely can the true impact and significance of the work be revealed.
If a bystander tells something, you would question the accuracy. If the news agency says something, would you do so in the same way to question the authority?
This series of photos is about how a changeable murder case told by the most authoritative news agency across the United States over a year.
An off-duty policewoman “accidentally“ went to the “inaccurate“ floor, and thought “that’s her apartment“ when she opened the unlocked door. She saw a black, disarmed man and shot him. When she called 911, she said: “I will lose my job.“
It should be a simple murder case. Something even not worth for a whodunit to write. But the police and the news agency spent over a year.
April - May 2019
You are the only one.
The one was given before birth.
It is a collection of my reflection on the One-Child Policy on my generation and my family.
The law itself became more significant in my life, especially, for now, the policy has no longer existed. But my family and I are not able to make up any past decision.
I came up with the idea to tell the story about the policy at age 19, that’s when I wrote my first nonfiction piece in English. I decided to transform the concept into photography at 22.
But neither a story told at 19 or a series of photo taken at 22 is good enough to tell the whole story. After my parents accepted the policy and decided to obey the law, the conflicts, and consequences of the law are just shown up in my life as I grow up.
The work is still in progress. I would create several photos to document how I read the consequences in my life differently as I step into society.
The first edition is published on Fools Magazine: http://www.foolsmag.com/posts/2019/7/30/01
